Fantasy Sports: Numbers aplenty with bats at first base

Ahh, first base — the fantasy position where one can hit 30 homers and drive in 105 runs in an off year.

That is what happened to the Angels’ Albert Pujols in his first campaign in the American League last season. He hit only .217 without a homer in April, went .263 with eight blasts in May and then batted over .300 for the next three months, eventually finishing at .285. That was still his worst average in a season during his 12-year career — and part of a trend where he has done that for three years in a row — but the level of consistency that helped him emerge with a solid season after the dark depths of April is what keeps him at the top of the list when it comes to fantasy first basemen.

Those you-can-count-on-them numbers are what make this position so fantastic. You may worry as a draft goes on about what putrid catcher or second baseman will fall to you, but when it comes to first base, you can get the last helpings and still find them warm and tasty.

Including Pujols, there is a top five that includes the Tigers’ Prince Fielder, the Reds’ Joey Votto, the Blue Jays’ Edwin Encarnacion and the Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez that includes nothing but superstars. When you have to get to No. 6 before you get to a possible question mark, things are good.

Some of those not-so-bad options even stand a chance to turn out very good. Allen Craig took over Pujols’ old spot with the Cardinals and batted .307 last season with 22 homers, 92 RBIs and 76 runs in only 119 games. Turning 29 in July, Craig is emerging later than ideal for a breakout star, but if someone “falls” to you in a draft with a legitimate chance at batting .300 with 25 homers and 100 RBIs, then any negatives come from pessimistic nitpicking.

Kansas City’s Billy Butler is a career .300 hitter who gets looked over often in the fantasy game because he spends the majority of his time as a DH. Last year, though, Butler did get into 20 games at first base, which should qualify him to play there in most leagues. Injury concerns are few for him since he spends so little time in the field, and he hits that magical physical maturation age of 27 in April. He posted career highs for hits (192), home runs (29) and RBIs (107) last season.

Getting even younger, Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt turns 26 in September, so his power numbers (20 homers, 82 RBIs) could see a slight increase and his 18 steals gives you something rare at the position.

Even closer to the cradle is the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo, who won’t turn 24 until August. He saw some significant time with the Cubs last season, getting in 87 games and finishing with a .285 average, 15 homers, 48 homers and 44 RBIs in 337 at-bats. Maybe that uber-prospect mantle he has been carrying around means something.

Value exists beyond youth, though, and lies inside the White Sox’ Paul Konerko, who turns 37 next month. He never has gotten himself into the conversation when it comes to the best at the position, but has always been just a step back during his 14 years in Chicago. Konerko wasn’t spectacular last season, but he still batted .298 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs. He should be drafted behind the youngsters because while he no longer stands to get better, he also isn’t getting worse and there is some comfort in that.

In such a deep position, it is rare to need to look for sleepers, but a small trade may have made a pair.

Earlier this month, the A’s and Astros made a five-player deal with Jed Lowrie being the biggest name involved. To get him, though, Oakland shipped longtime power prospect first baseman Chris Carter to Houston.

Carter saw his most extensive major league time last season, hitting 16 homers in 67 games. Now the Astros are even talking about working out Carter in the outfield, so they seem committed to giving him playing time. That may be all he needs to fulfill his potential, and Houston’s move to the DH-fueled American League gives him even more opportunity for at-bats.

The move also should increase the at-bats for Brandon Moss in Oakland, who now looks like the A’s everyday first baseman. He was far from everyday last season, when he got only 265 at-bats, but he still cranked out 21 homers and 52 RBIs in that time. Add in a batting average of .291, and he will become a star if he holds that pace for an entire season.

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